Direction signal



July 16, 1935. .1. F. WALDMAN 2,008,051

DIRECTION SIGNAL v Filed Aug. 22, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'Jbfzn E Waldmczn QMdO/ih July 16, 1935. I J. F. WALDMAN 2,008,051

DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed Aug. 22,- 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/lf . Invenlor Johnfz'waldm'an @QM E flllorney Patented July 16, 1935 unrrso STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRECTION SIGNAL John Florian Waldman; Enid,kla. Application August 22, 1933, Serial No. 686,289 Claim. (01. 177-327) This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in electrical signalling, and more particularly to a novel direction signal for use on motor vehicles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a direction signal of the semaphore type which can be readily operated by the driver without in any manner encumbering his action at the steering wheel.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a signal for motor vehicles wherein the details are so constructed as to not be susceptible to the development of ready defects.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view through an automobile body, showing in rear elevation the signal semaphore and its control means.

Figure 2 represents a rear elevational view of the semaphore.

Figure 3 represents a top plan view of the somaphore with a part thereof broken away.

Figure 4 represents a side elevational view of the control.

Figure 5 represents a vertical sectional view through the control. 7

Figure 6 represents a sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 represents a side elevational view of the contactor.

Figure 8 represents a perspective view of the contactor with the roller removed.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in Figure 1, that numeral 5 represents the body of an automobile, while numeral 5 generally refers to the semaphore of the signal, while numeral 7 represents the control means whereby the semaphore is operated. The semaphore consists of an inwardly tapering lamp box 8 having front and rear panes 99. Located within this lamp box 8 is 45 an incandescent bulb 50, while a pair of leg members II-H protrude from the inner end of the lamp box and are pivotally connected to the bracket !2 on the body 5 by a pin l3. A coiled spring M on the pin l-3, having one end attached 50 to the bracket 52 while the other end is attached to one of the legs I I, serves as a means for automatically elevating the semaphore 6 when it is released by the control I.

As can be clearly seen in Figures 4 to 8, inclusive, the control consists of a circular casing l5 having a removable dial plate in one side thereof. A shaft IT is journaled through this dial plate l6 and terminates within an opening in the back wall of the casing I 5, which opening registers with an opening l8 in the bracket clamp l9 which at- 5 taches the casing 15 to the steering shaft housing 20.

Numeral 2| represents a drum attached to the shaft ll, as at 22, and on this drum the cable 23 can be wound. This cable 23 extends downwardly 10 through an opening 24 in the bottom of the casing 15 and is trained under a pulley 25 and as many other pulleys as may be required to attach, as at 26, to the inner end portion of the semaphore 6.

This drum 2| is provided with an inwardly dis- 15 posed circumferentially extending flange 21 which has a plate 28 of di-electric material secured thereto at its inner periphery. This plate 28 of (ii-electric material has a recess 29 therein, which is the inactive position of the semaphore. 20 This flange 21 is provided with a low semaphore position notch 30, a horizontal position notch 3| and an elevated or high semaphore position notch 32. Obviously, whenever the semaphore is in operative position, the contact roller 36 is in en- 25 gagement with the edge of the annulus 21, and when the semaphore signal is in retracted position, the roller 36 is engaged with the plate 28, which is of insulation.

A bracket 33 of current conductive material is 30 attached to the back side of the casing l5 and projects inwardly and to the inner end is attached the leg 34 of the yoke 35 within which is mounted the contact roller 36. This contact roller is adapt ed for riding engagement against the edge of the 35 flange 2'1 and when the semaphore is in inactive position, is normally seated in the recess 29 of the di-electric plate 28. A spring 31 has its intermediate portion convoluted about the shaft l1, while one end is attached to the casing I5 and its opposite end attached to the shaft ll. Numeral 38 represents a flat spring attached at its lower end to the casing i5, while its upper end is split and disposed through a circumferential groove in the shaft I! so as. to steady the shaft ll and to prevent any longitudinal motion thereof. The end of the shaft H which projects beyond the dial face It is provided with a lever 39 whereby the shaft I! can be actuated.

When the shaft I1 is actuated by the handle 39 and the roller 36 released from the notch 29 in the di -electric plate 28, the aforementioned spring I4 will lift the semaphore 6 upwardly until the roller 36 rides into the recess 39, whereupon the sema- 55 phore will stop at the low active position, indicating a left turn.

If the roller 36 is tripped from this recess 30, the spring M will carry the semaphore 6 upwardly until the roller engages into the recess 3|, at which point the semaphore will be in a horizontal position, such as is shown in Figure 1.

To indicate a right turn, the roller 36 is tripped from the recess 3! so that the spring I4 will carry the semaphore up further until the roller 36 engages into the recess 32.

As shown in Figure l, numeral 40 represents a battery from which the lead wire 4| extends to the incandescent lamp I0 in the semaphore 6 and from this lamp extends the conductor 42 which connects to the flange 21 at the point 43, there always being a complete circuit for the lamp Ili when the roller 36 is off of the (ii-electric plate 28.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

In combination, a support, means for rotatably mounting a drum in said support, an operating cable attached to the periphery of said drum, said drum being provided with an inwardly disposed annulus, the inner edge of which is provided with spaced notches, a plate of insulation secured to the annulus adjacent one of the notches, said plate having a shallow notch therein registering with the aforementioned not-ch, a contact roller, means for resiliently mounting said roller on said support in a position to successively engage said notches as the drum is rotated, a signal circuit in which said annulus and roller are serially included, and means for manually rotating said drum.

' JOHN FLORIAN WALDMAN. 

